I feel like our relationship has reached the next level Scuba_Steve. You seem to know me better than anyone else.

I was only using LttP as an example because it seems like a comparable game. Lucas' review doesn't even attempt to offer up flaws in the game. Backtracking in Super Metroid is an annoyance to me. I can't possibly be the only person in the world who feels the same way. Symphony of the Night improved the Metroid formula by adding a teleport system. It's Lucas' job to include stuff like this in his review, yet he doesn't. It's not just Metroid, I've noticed him doing the same thing in several other reviews too. Star Fox 64, for example. He never once addresses how short the campaign is. I know the alternate paths add more to the short campaign, but this should at least be mentioned.

I love Super Metroid just like everyone else who has played it. As much as I love it though, it isn't a perfect game. All games have flaws, even if they are incredibly minute. Even though Lucas apparently loves the game, it is his job to talk about these flaws.

I think I understand your issue with the 10.0 score. You despise backtracking and Super Metroid is loaded with it. This obviously hurts your opinion of lasting appeal on the game. The thing is Lucas may be like me and never saw it as a problem and therefore never thought to bring it up. I guess I'm a bit of a hypocrite on this because I'm a big proponent of games involving backtracking yet I will use warp points if they are available (i.e. DS Castlevania games).

Backtracking is also a core aspect of the Metroid franchise so fans expect it, but since anyone can download this title Lucas should have mentioned it. I can only think of Metroid Prime 2: Echoes as a Metroid title containing warp points and even then they aren't available until nearly the end of the game. The lack of warp system seems more like a design choice instead of a failure to implement it with this franchise.

It's strange that you mentioned how short Star Fox 64 was. Back in the day I liked that about the game because it gave the game a lot of replay value once I got good at it since in a single hour or so gaming session I could play through the entire game. The shortness is certainly worth mentioning, but I would have complained more about the game's lack of a save system (and I don't think the Wii emulator can save the game state of an N64 title)

>> As much as I love it {Super Metroid} though,
>> it isn't a perfect game. All games have flaws,
>> even if they are incredibly minute.

Keep in mind that a 10.0 score doesn't mean the game is flawless in that category, what you have written in that statement seems to fit IGN's restrictions on that score.

Well, I hope to see you around again. I don't think I've ever seen your name on the Wii board. If you have one and like Super Metroid you'd might love the Wii version of the game. I hear backtracking has been adjusted to make more sense... though that makes me fear that it's too linear.

Another thing back tracking in super metroid is actually the nintendo school of gaming this did not hurt the score back then and it should not hurt now. the reward value of receiving new weapons makes the back tracking essential to the gaming experience we shared as young gamers and as veterans in this day and time

My top 5 games of all time:
1) Metroid Prime (swept game of the year from every media outlet except the paid-off Gameinformer... EGM said it's like "the game of the year from 6 years in the future.")
2) MGS2 (Yes, part 2!!!)
3) MGS3
4) Splinter Cell Chaos Theory/Battlefield 2 (tie)
5) Super Metroid!!!!!! AWESOME GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking of GI being paid off, those of you who own both Resistance and Gears of War (like I do) will immediately scoff at the notion that some of GI's editors rated Resistance higher than GOW (see their end of the year issue). I can see someone enjoying Resistance's rather lame online mode (UTTERLY brainless run and gun... much worse than Halo), but I CANNOT believe that someone honestly thinks it's better than GOW. It is much more rational to believe that such an opinion was purchased, than to believe that a person honestly feels that way.

You underestimate the value of speedruns for lasting appeal. Zero Mission can be beaten in under 2 hours easily and I replayed that at least two dozen times... You can't really speedrun the 3D Metroid games, and I replayed those once or twice. To speak of Paper Mario, 20-30 hours is SHORT for an RPG. It's all relative.

You have to rememebr that the score is relative. For Super Metroid, an action/adventure game, taking 10 hours to complete is great. Plus, add on to the fact that you can complete the game many different ways (skip areas, invetigate others, get all the powerups, do speed uns), and when that's all said an done, you could end up replaying this game dozens of time. Paper Mario, on the other hand, does take a good 20-30 hours to play through--once. How many times will you beat that game in a row?

i just downloaded this game for the virtual console on friday (that's the time it came out in this country) and after hearing lots of great things abut this game i am happy to say that super metroid doesn't disapoint. i knew the game was gonna be great but i could never have imagined that this would be as good (if not better) as metroid prime. the graphics and music are incredible (for a 2d game) and suits the game's creepy atmosphere very well. the level design is absolute genius, the backtracking feels so right and the boss fights are tense and exciting. whether you're a metroid fan or a nintendo fan or if you're a xbox or ps3 fanboy, you all have to agree that this is definitely one of THE greatest games of all time (anyone that disagrees is just plain wrong).

Just downloaded it for my PC. I am playing a SNES game, on a PC, using a SIXAXIS controller. Huh. The game is amazing. I am not even half through yet and I cannot wait to get my hands on the Screwattack.

The board is doing a Metroid series play through now (http://boards.ign.com/metroid/b5217/202915729/p1/?0), and Super was this week. I STILL can't help but wander around this game and get lost. Perfection.